MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Feb 27, 2014) - (Family Features) You've got your favorite team. Your bracket is ready to go. All that's left to do is choose the perfect menu star while the competition on the court -- and on the sidelines -- heats up. Serve up something your friends and family will love almost as much as the game itself: pork.
The traditional favorites are great, but to take your game-day gathering a notch above the rest, try a winning recipe like Slow-Cooker Root Beer Ribs. The perfect choice for serving a fired-up crowd, these fall-off-the-bone, St. Louis-style spareribs are known for their delicious, meaty pork flavor. Slow-cooked until tender in a root beer-infused sauce with a chili powder kick, these ribs are easy enough to prepare that you won't have to miss any of the action.
For sides, try:
- A refreshing slaw with a hint of sweetness from apples, oranges or raisins
- Oven-roasted sweet potato fries, dipped in extra sauce from the ribs
- Extra-creamy macaroni and cheese with bacon
If you're entertaining a large crowd, make one batch with root beer and try another with cola, and let your guests pick their favorite. Garnish with thin slivers of red onion for a trophy-worthy presentation. If you don't have a slow cooker, roast ribs until tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
To round out your game-day menu with more juicy, tender pork recipes, visit www.porkbeinspired.com.
| Slow-Cooker Root Beer Ribs | ||
| Yield: 6 servings | ||
| 1/4 | cup dark brown sugar, packed | |
| 2 | tablespoons chili powder | |
| 1 | tablespoon salt | |
| 2 | teaspoons onion powder | |
| 1 | teaspoon allspice | |
| 2 | racks St. Louis-style pork spare ribs, (2 1/3 to 3 pounds each), cut into 3- or 4-rib sections | |
| 1 1/2 | cups (12 ounce can) root beer, (not diet), divided | |
| 2 | tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water | |
Combine sugar, chili powder, salt, onion powder and allspice in medium bowl. Set aside half spice mixture (about 1/3 cup); sprinkle rest over both sides of ribs. Pour 1/2 cup root beer into slow cooker and add ribs. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or on high for 3 1/2-4 hours, until ribs are very tender.
With 10 minutes left on ribs, combine remaining root beer and reserved spice mixture in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cornstarch mixture and stir until sauce thickens, just a few seconds. Remove from heat; set aside.
Remove ribs to platter and cover. Strain cooking liquid and pour off fat. Add 1/3 cup remaining liquid to sauce; stir until smooth.
Brush ribs with sauce, serve with remaining sauce on side.
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